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September 23, 2011

CTA Joins Progressive Organizations for White House Meetings

Contact: Frank Wells (562) 708-5425

Washington, D.C. – California Teachers Association President Dean E. Vogel and other CTA leaders will join other progressive activists for meetings with the Obama administration officials in Washington, D.C. today to discuss education and other important social issues. The meetings, organized by the California-based Courage Campaign, will include policy breakout sessions on education, immigration, the environment, LGBT issues, labor and the Affordable Care Act.

Among White House officials participating in today's discussions will be Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Senior Advisor to the President David Plouffe.

Educators are strong supporters of President Obama but have been disappointed in part by some of the administration's education policies, especially some of the overly competitive aspects of programs like Race to the Top. CTA sees the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA/No Child Left Behind) as an opportunity to fix a failed program and move forward with more effective policies.

"We are at a critical time for the future public education," said Vogel. "California and the rest of our nation's schools are facing unprecedented challenges and we welcome today's opportunity to meet with the administration to discuss ways Washington can help get our schools and our state back on the right track."